The Tomato Bisque Soup Club

I remember my mom would fix us tomato soup when we were not feeling well, and I would sit and draw. The Tomato Bisque Soup Club is my version of that combination of comfort and creative expression, for those who don’t feel so good and need some spiritual healing by painting life’s stories. The arts are often an expression of something that cannot be spoken, only painted, or sung, or danced, or written.

The idea of the Tomato Bisque Soup Club grew from my mother’s early example, and from painting with her in hospice near the end of her life. I set up the materials for watercolor painting and she created works of art while I asked her about memories and feelings. Through painting she participated in living while expressing her final thoughts. These 20-minute sessions with her were priceless.

My experience with my mother led me to volunteer with hospice patients, and to develop workshops for people dealing with illness, loss, or a challenging transition. We started calling this the Tomato Bisque Soup Club. It has been a privilege painting with others (adults and children) as we sit on a patio or at a bedside or café. We paint simple symbols that express our hopes and dreams to the One that can bring us healing and joy.

Resources

Cover of Painting for the Journey (click image to download brochure)

Painting for the Journey: The original version of this brochure was designed for a workshop on grieving which Linda White and I taught at the 2011 Call to Action conference in Milwaukee. The participants were looking for avenues of helping people, and resources to take back to their parishioners. During the workshop we made cards, painted with watercolor and watercolor pencils, wrote sayings and folded them into sculpture. The brochure describes how “[y]ou can learn to be a healing presence using watercolor to help bring forth memories and feelings.”

Classes, workshops, and retreats can be designed to focus on the “inward journey” while teaching real artistic technique. The process is gentle and unburdened by critique or artistic expectation. We take some time to get grounded, be silent, and allow the Spirit to talk to us, reconnecting with what is important in life, and tell our stories through watercolor painting. These can take place at retreat centers, church basements, or other locations. You can find scheduled activities on the Classes and Events page, or let me know if you have a suggestion for a class or workshop to offer in your area (email jomyerswalker@gmail.com).

Important note: I’m not a professional therapist or counselor. The Tomato Bisque Soup Club is meant to help people illustrate their thoughts and express their feelings within a manageable range of normal human emotion. Although I believe art can be a conduit for spiritual healing, I would recommend for anyone in great distress to first contact their spiritual advisor or a mental health professional for assistance. Catholic Charities has been very helpful to me – their services are available to anyone, on a sliding fee scale.

The Virtual Left Bank Studio

I've sold the "bank" building in Gilbert and am excited to go virtual with The Left Bank Studio and continue to create and make things! Please let me know what you are doing and we will update my goings-on here each week.

Contact me

Jo Myers-Walker
Email jomyerswalker@gmail.com

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